Federer ready for action

Friday 5 January 2007 00:07 BST

Roger Federer's five-day Wimbledon sojourn will finally be interrupted today when the number one seed's quarter-final against Juan Carlos Ferrero gets under way.

Federer has not played since defeating Marat Safin on Friday thanks to the withdrawal of fourth-round opponent Tommy Haas through injury, allowing him to watch in comfort as incessant rain tormented his rivals.

Andy Roddick, who will face Federer in the semi-finals if both players progress, believes the break will prove beneficial, saying: "We've been stuck in a locker room for nine hours a day and he's been chilling out. Given the choice, I'd take a living room over a locker room."

Roddick faces his own quarter-final today after his straight-sets victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu set up a contest against another Frenchman, 12th seed Richard Gasquet.

Gasquet knocked out compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round and is concerned by the prospect of subduing the American third seed's booming serve on Court One.

"If it wasn't for Federer, Roddick would have won Wimbledon twice already," he said.

"But he's a great player. I'll have to be aggressive against him. It will be hard because of his serve - it's incredible."